What is the Yi Jing (I Ching)? The Yi Jing (I Ching), or Book of Change, is
an ancient Chinese oracle that has been consulted in times of trouble for
thousands of years. It was used as a guide and source of wisdom by the
emperors, helping them decide the difficult issues of statecraft; and it was
both a source and repository of philosophical insight for the Chinese sages.
Both of the major Chinese philosophical traditions, Taoist and Confucionist
alike, have contributed to its development and it finds a place in many
aspects of Chinese culture including
Chinese Astrology, the martial arts
and statecraft. That is has survived, indeed flourished, over its 5000 year
history is a testament both to its effectiveness as a practical guide in
times of doubt and trouble and its role as a source of deep philosophical
wisdom. Simply, it can help us live in harmony with the forces that shape
life. The Traditional History According to most stories, the originator of
the Book of Change is Fu Hsi, the legendary semi-human first emperor of
China who is also credited with the invention of writing and cooking. He is
said to have noticed the trigrams (Ba Qua, the basic three lined figures of
the Yi Jing(I Ching)) on the back of a tortoise emerging from the Yellow
River. Thus, through careful observation of the patterns in nature he came
to understand the structure of reality. This event is usually placed at
around 3000BCE.
The following is a description of
each of the Ba Qua symbols:
1. Sky
Three
solid lines were used to symbolize sky. The sky is strong and has divine
power to provide infinite space to accommodate all. Using three solid lines
to represent the sky is very the appropriate for its supreme being.
2.Earth
Three
broken lines are used to symbolize earth. The earth is a gigantic object. It
is a supporting body for human life and a burial ground for death. It is
considered soft and receptive, because it can take a lot of punishments with
tolerance.
3. Thunder
Two
broken lines on top a solid line symbolize thunder. The two broken lines on
top have the image of lighting and the bottom solid line symbolizes
elevation. Thus, the image is lighting striking on the top of a mountain.
4.Wind
Two
solid lines on top a broken line symbolize wind. The two solid lines
represent the sky and energy. The broken line represents earth. Thus, this
image is the sky and energy approaching earth. The wind is invisible and we
can only justify its existence by observing the moving tree tops.
5. Water (Moon)
A solid
line in between two broken lines symbolize water. The two broken lines
represent the depression of earth (river banks). The solid line in the
middle represents motion. This creates the image of water flowing in a
river. In addition, this Qua also represents the moon.
Three
solid lines were used to symbolize sky. The sky is strong and has divine
power to provide infinite space to accommodate all. Using three solid lines
to represent the sky is very the appropriate for its supreme being.
Three
broken lines are used to symbolize earth. The earth is a gigantic object. It
is a supporting body for human life and a burial ground for death. It is
considered soft and receptive, because it can take a lot of punishments with
tolerance.
Two
broken lines on top a solid line symbolize thunder. The two broken lines on
top have the image of lighting and the bottom solid line symbolizes
elevation. Thus, the image is lighting striking on the top of a mountain.
Two
solid lines on top a broken line symbolize wind. The two solid lines
represent the sky and energy. The broken line represents earth. Thus, this
image is the sky and energy approaching earth. The wind is invisible and we
can only justify its existence by observing the moving tree tops.
A solid
line in between two broken lines symbolize water. The two broken lines
represent the depression of earth (river banks). The solid line in the
middle represents motion. This creates the image of water flowing in a
river. In addition, this Qua also represents the moon.